In lieu of vacations to the beach, Forbes Magazine recently featured five summer lake getaways with activities and sights galore.Forbes mentioned Lake Placid in New York, formerly famous for hosting the Winter Olympics twice, where fishers may find rainbow and lake trout earlier than usual due to the mild winter. Also featured were Lake Oconee in Georgia, located one hour from Atlanta, the Finger Lakes in New York, famous for numerous nearby wineries, Lake Tahoe in Nevada and Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.
Lake Oconee, Ga.
Georgia’s second-largest lake is only an hour’s drive from downtown Atlanta, but the surrounding pine trees, rolling hills and antebellum architecture make the area feel far from urban. The lake is 20 miles long and only one mile across at its widest section, so each stretch of Lake Oconee feels remote—a plus for travelers seeking tranquility. The area is home to over 130 holes of golf, and the Bob Cupp-designed The Landing at Reynolds Plantation hugs the lake’s shoreline. History buffs can stroll the sites in nearby Greensboro, including the county courthouse and its fortress-like jail, with two-foot thick granite walls that have stood since 1807.
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation. Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
Where to stay: On the western edge of Lake Oconee’s meandering shoreline, you’ll find the Four-Star Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, a 30-acre resort overlooking the lake. You can channel the great outdoors from the hotel—each room has a private terrace, and lounge chairs and fire pits are spread across the property.
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